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Abby sat up and said, “Ohhhh, that’s so sweet of you, Alex. Thank you,” and she beamed at him. “I’ve never had abalone and I was tellin’ the girls here that I wasn’t sure I’d want to eat them.”
Nodding, Alex said, “Yes, I thought about that.”
Sky scooted over and pulled the paper back enough to look at the large fish. They were ugly looking. Each had been speared. “I didn’t know you could swim, much less spear fish,” she said, smiling at him. She saw Alex blush, his cheeks growing ruddy.
“Well,” he said, clearing his throat, “when you are Spetsnaz, you are trained to do everything. Learning to spearfish is a way to eat instead of starving.” He shrugged his thick shoulders. “These are rock sea bass. They taste very good, Sky.”
“I love fish,” Sky murmured. “These are huge, Alex!” She moved aside to show Lauren and Abby the catch.
Abby craned her neck, checking out the fish. “Alex, do you know what they taste like?”
“Yes,” he said. “Have you ever eaten halibut?”
Abby nodded. “Yes.”
“They are a very firm flesh,” he told her, hooking one of the fish in its gill and holding it up for her closer inspection. “Very firm, flaky and it tastes very good. I know you would enjoy it.”
Abby smiled. “Well, I think that was awfully nice of you to think about us girls. Did any of the other guys think about fish for us in case we didn’t like abalone?”
Alex carefully placed the fish down with the rest. “Well,” he murmured, “perhaps they would have. I just came up with the idea first, was all.” He brightened. “Cal had brought along a spear, so I think if I had not asked to use it, one of the other men might have.”
Sky patted Alex’s shoulder. “You’re being much too humble,” she said. Sky turned and looked at the women. “Are you two up for grilled sea bass tonight?”
Alex dared to sneak a quick look in Lauren’s direction. He was surprised that he didn’t see anger or disgust in her eyes as he had every other time, he talked to her. Instead, he saw thoughtfulness in her expression. Seeing her nod toward him made him feel good, but he quickly averted his look to Abby, who was eagerly nodding her head.
“If you do not mind?” he said to Sky and Abby, carefully avoiding looking directly at Lauren, “I have a very nice Ukrainian recipe for grilled sea bass. Would you trust me to make your dinner for you tonight?”
“I’d love it,” Sky murmured. “Abby? Lauren?”
“Go to town,” Abby told Alex enthusiastically. “I’ll put my life in your hands.”
Alex smiled a little, his nervousness showing as he shifted in his crouched position between them. Lauren said nothing. He started to feel hurt when she spoke up.
“I’ll take that check ride with you, Kazak. Go for it. If you kill me, I’ll come back and hunt down your sorry ass.”
Abby and Sky burst out laughing, knowing Lauren was teasing him. The look on Alex’s face, however, made it clear he took her seriously.
“I would never hurt you, Lauren,” he said in an an emotional but somber tone.
Lauren said, “It’s my black humor, Kazak.”
Alex frowned. “What is black humor?”
Groaning, Lauren said with a slight grin, “I was teasing you. Go ask Cal for a definition of what black humor means. Okay?”
Alex looked a little relieved. “Yes. Thank you.” As he slowly rose to his feet, carefully holding the sea bass in his arms, he felt his chest expand with sudden, inexplicable happiness. Lauren’s voice had been almost friendly. Not condescending as it always had been before. Maybe Cal was right: ignore her. Let Lauren come to him. Giving Lauren a wide smile, he said “I will take care of you ladies tonight. I promise, you will like the way I grill these sea bass for all of you,” and he turned, walking cockily back to the kitchen.
Sky turned to Abby. “Wasn’t that kind of Alex? He’s so thoughtful.”
Abby nodded. “He’s a really sweet.”
Lauren shrugged and sipped her wine. “Before you heap him with praise, why don’t you wait and see how the sea bass turns out tonight. Proof’s in the pudding.”
Abby giggled. “Spoken like a true sniper. Taste it first THEN make up your mind.”
A grin edged Lauren’s lips as she lifted her head and watched Alex with the other SEALs crowded around the kitchen sink. There was raucous kidding and teasing going on between men and it appeared the SEALs had easily embraced and included the Ukrainian. “Let’s see,” she murmured with a grin, turning her attention to the women, “if he can deliver the goods. Talk is cheap. It’s the action that counts.”
“Well,” Sky sighed, laying her head on Cal’s chest, “it’s been a wonderful day.” She moved her fingers across his damp flesh. Her body still rippled with the multiple orgasms he’d given her earlier. Loving Cal without a condom was, in her mind, incredible. Her body seemed so much more sensitized to him, and she relaxed across Cal, contentment washing through her.
